Sunday, October 31, 2010

Friday, October 29, 2010

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Every year around this time I start thinking about getting my family together and taking some photos to use on our Christmas cards for the upcoming season. Now, I cannot even begin to tell you how much my kids detest having their pictures made. It's always a major ordeal and they fuss and complain the entire time. I usually dread it so much and end up procrastinating. Then, I'm left scrambling around at the last minute trying to come up with some cards to send out.

But, this year, I'm determined to be on top of things and take care of this early. One thing that will make this task a whole lot easier and more enjoyable, is by ordering my holiday cards from Shutterfly.com. I've heard so many good things about their products and services. I've already started browsing around at their Christmas photo cards and I'm really impressed with their design selection. Here are a few of my favorite holiday card designs:

Sweet Scalloped Frame - I love, love, love this one! It reminds me of a big ol' postage stamp. The design is simple and fun and really puts the focus on the photo.

Color Me Merry Christmas - If I choose this design, I will go with a black and white photo as seen in the sample. I like the contrast of the colorful block text and the black and white picture. Cute!

So, what do you think? Which of these designs do you like? Have you started thinking about a theme or photo idea to put on your own Christmas card this year? If you need some inspiration, check out Shutterfly.com. They not only offer a huge selection of holiday cards, but also calendars, invitations, photo books, and more.

Disclaimer:This post was written to help spread the word about Shutterfly.com and their holiday cards. In exchange for writing this post, I will receive 50 free cards. All opinions are 100% my own.

Recently, I was the featured blogger over at Simply Stacie. I wanted to say thanks and give her a big shout out for all she does. Check out her blog for tons of great book reviews, giveaways, PR information and more.

I have officially started my Christmas shopping. YAY!

Let's talk tv...do you watch the HBO series Bored To Death? I have to say this is one of my very favorite shows on tv. It's totally laugh-out-loud funny. If you are easily offended by language, sexual content, and drug references, then this is not the show for you. But, if you're okay with that kind of stuff you should really check it out. Jason Schwartzman stars as struggling Brooklyn writer, Jonathan. With his writing career not going so well, Jonathan decides to moonlight as a private investigator and advertises his services on Craigslist (even though he has no training or qualifications to be a private investigator). The show follows the antics of Jonathan, his magazine editor (Ted Danson), and comic-book writer-best friend (Zach Galifianakis). Schwartzman, Danson, and Galifianakis seem like an oddball cast of characters but their dynamics really work and they are quite hilarious. The trio often end up working on Jonathan's cases together and almost always botch something up or find themselves in some precarious situation. The show is on HBO on Sunday nights (with several replays throughout the week as well). Watch it and let me know what you think...

It's very irksome when I'm commenting on a blog and I get that little message that says..."You are posting comments too quickly. Please slow down". I don't know why it bothers me so much but it just does.

I'm going to be participating in a Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop in December and I'm trying to decide about my giveaway prize. What store would you most like to win a gift card from?

Is it sad that I'm really excited about buying a new ironing board today? Seriously, for the last several years, I've only had one of the small table-top ironing boards (because honestly I rarely iron). But, for some reason I have decided that I need to be more June-Cleaver-like and do it more. So, I bought a full-size, cute blue-polka-dot-covered ironing board at Target today.

Is it bad that I have repeatedly told the kids to stay out of the Halloween candy, yet I have been sneaking Reese's cups like crazy?

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I recently participated in the True Colors swap, hosted by Jessica over at Duck Duck Cow. The theme was to put together a package for your swap partner consisting of goodies in their favorite color. My awesome swap partner was Brooke and she sent me a wonderful box of "gray" items since that is my favorite color. Here's a peek at what I received:

Check out these warm argyle socks - I love them! And, I also can't wait to wear the smoky gray eyeshadows and nail polish - perfect! She even thought of my dog and included a cute gray mummy toy for her - how fun is that! I loved everything and enjoyed getting to meet Brooke. Thanks Brooke, for sending me such a fun swap package! And, thanks also to Jessica for hosting the swap.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Zappos.com , a leading destination in online apparel and footwear sales, has announced the launch of Zappos’ first Mobile shopping application for the iPad. Within the first week of the launch, the Zappos Mobile app garnered nearly 10,000 downloads, putting the app in the Top Ten iPad apps at the Apple iTunes Store. The FREE Zappos Mobile app allows users to quickly search, shop, read reviews and make purchases on Zappos.com. Zappos shoppers can now get the famous Zappos service they have come to expect—24/7—while on the go.

The Zappos Mobile app was designed specifically as a simple shopping experience making use of the iPad’s unique functions (gestures, rotational screens, pinch zoom, etc.) and works in both portrait and landscape layouts, without dropping any functionality or features. All purchases are routed through Zappos.com’s secure servers just as they are on the web.

“The goal of the Zappos Mobile App was to deliver a simple shopping experience on the coolest device on the street in eons,” said Ian Klassen, Zappos Mobile Program Manager. “The Zappos Mobile App does its darndest to deliver the same WOW service that Zappos.com is known for, in a fun, convenient and innovative way.” Adds Zappos.com CEO, Tony Hsieh, “There is a secret, fun surprise for people that shake their iPads in just the right way after launching the app that we think Zappos customers are going to love.”

With the Zappos app for iPad, customers can shop by categories including: Shoes, Clothing, Beauty, Bags and Handbags, Accessories, Housewares, New Products and Gift Cards. Zappos.com customers also have full access to their existing account information including stored payment types, shipping addresses, favorites and order history.

The new Zappos app for iPad is great for:
· Buying new items while waiting for an appointment, instead of reading magazines from 1998.

· Shopping for the huge selection of products available from Zappos.com.

· Purchasing gifts you forgot to buy on time and know they’ll get there in a time window that makes you think we’re super-human.

· Browsing product images and reading customer reviews while on the bus or train, or in any situation you don’t want to be talked to by strangers.

· People that like cats

· People that like people that like cats

To download the Zappos app for iPad, visit the Apple iTunes store.

Disclaimer:
This post was written in conjunction with Zappos.com and Kel & Partners. No compensation of any type was received.

TenMarks is an online math program for grades 3-10 that helps kids learn and practice math concepts at their own pace. Each child receives a personalized curriculum that covers the core math skills that are pertinent to your child's age/grade. The lessons are presented as online worksheets that are assigned weekly (or more often if you wish). Each worksheet contains a small group of multiple choice questions. If the child needs help with a particular concept, they can click on the hint option or watch a quick video lesson. There are practice and test options and as kids work through the program, they are rewarded by gaining access to games. Parents can use the report card section to track their child's progress. There are also certificates of mastery that you can print out when a child successfully completes various concepts. You can join TenMarks for only $10 per month and you have the option to try it out for free first.

We were given the opportunity to try out TenMarks and have been using the program with our 4th grade son. Math is not his strongest subject so I was anxious to see if TenMarks would be helpful for him. First of all, I love that the lessons are fairly short and to the point. His worksheets contain only 10 questions each, which is great because he is able to stay focused and not lose interest. He can work through each concept pretty quickly and then move one. This is a nice motivator for him and helps him to not become overwhelmed or feel like it's "too much work". He also likes that he is working toward something because at certain points along the way, he gets to unlock new games to play. I appreciate the report card section. It lets me see details about his progress - the dates he completed each worksheet, his scores, how many hints were used for each lesson, etc. This is helpful because it gives a clear picture of where his strengths are and where he might need some extra practice. I have been very happy with the TenMarks program and feel like it's a quick and easy way for my son to practice and brush up on his math skills.

Here is some more information about the program from the TenMarks website:

TenMarks Education was founded by entrepreneurial parents searching for a better way to help students achieve their potential in math, and supplement and enrich their classroom learning. Founders, Andrew Joseph and Rohit Agarwal saw an opportunity to leverage the internet to help meet the challenges parents and teachers face when trying to advance math achievement, given the unique learning needs of every child, and their resistance to practice or learn new concepts. Students, parents and teachers often struggle to find a way to supplement classroom math instruction that is effective, convenient and affordable, and will actually be used by students.

Andrew and Rohit knew that in order to reach and engage students, they would need to leverage technology and media in a way that is consistent with how they interact with information everyday. The TenMarks team worked closely with experienced educators and technologists to develop a method that allows students to practice and learn math in an intuitive way, receive hints and video instructions exactly when they need it, and provide results that are personalized andrelevant. The result is an approach that motivates the students, builds confidence, and advances achievement.

For more information and/or to sign up for the program, visit TenMarks

Disclaimer:TenMarks provided free program access for us to try out with our son. No other compensation was received besides the free program access. All opinions are my own.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

When you were a kid, what did you want you want to be when you grew up? Did you become that or did you choose another option?

When I was little, I wanted to be either an archeologist or a flight attendant. I did not become either one, instead I chose to go to nursing school and become a registered nurse. And, after having my own children, I chose to quit working altogether so that I could be a stay-at-home mom. I love being a stay-at-home mom and it has been the best choice for me.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Earlier this month, Sears posed the question "What's your favorite appliance in your home?" and I wrote about my washing machine. My post was featured over at the MySears Blog. Not only is Sears a great source for home appliances, but, it's also the place to find a huge selection of tools, housewares, clothing, shoes, gifts, and much more.

To thank me for participating in their blogger program, Sears has very generously offered to give one of my readers a $75 Sears Gift Certificate. What a great way to kick off some early Christmas shopping!

You must do mandatory entry first to be eligible for giveaway. Please leave a separate comment for each thing you do. Giveaway is only open to U.S. residents. Entries will be accepted until 10:00 pm EST Oct. 21, 2010. A random winner will be selected from all qualifying entries. Please make sure I have valid contact information for you in case you are the winner. Good luck!

Disclaimer:To thank me for participating in their blogger program, Sears is providing a $75 gift certificate to one of my blog readers. I received no compensation.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Fresh Fruit Pie is a new DVD series that aims to raise the bar on the quality of family entertainment. These videos are sort of like a family-friendly "Saturday Night Live" and can be enjoyed by both parents and kids of today's generation. Here's some information from the Fresh Fruit Pie website:

The culture of today’s kids is very different than it was when we were kids. Kids have access to cell phones, texting, youtube, social media sites like Facebook, and countless other technologies that completely change the way they communicate ideas and relate with each other. Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street are fantastic shows, but they don’t hold the attention of today’s kids.

As parents, teachers, pastors, and moral leaders, we compete with an enticing but immoral culture to keep kids’ hearts and minds on the right track. Fresh Fruit Pie is our response to that culture. We’ve spent years observing kids’ media consumption habits and have crafted a show that is specifically designed to entertain them in a wholesome and encouraging way. It is also a starting point to discuss positive moral values. Our vision is to make awesome family entertainment, to expose kids to the morals they need to be successful in life, and to be relevant to the fast-paced world of today’s youth. Fresh Fruit Pie is intense, really intense – enough to capture the attention of today’s media-saturated kids. It best reaches (and has been designed for) one of the toughest age ranges: 6-12, although kids of all ages have found the show amazingly fun.

Fresh Fruit Pie is inspired by the “Fruit of the Spirit” found in the Bible -

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Nine episodes of Fresh Fruit Pie are currently in production, each episode focusing on one of the nine Fruit of the Spirit. The first episode, entitled Party!, centers on “Joy.”

Check out this sneak peek:

Fresh Fruit Pie will be holding an online premier Oct. 19-21. During this time, an entire episode will be available for free live streaming for 48 hours. Visit the Fresh Fruit Pie website for all the details.

Disclaimer:This post was written in conjunction with Fresh Fruit Pie. No compensation of any type was received.

Monday, October 11, 2010

I have a strange question for you guys that I really hope someone can help me out with....does anyone have a pet rabbit? My 14 yr. old daughter desperately wants one for Christmas and I need to know what all is involved in caring for them. I'm a huge dog-lover, but other pets - not so much! My daughter thinks bunnies are all cute and fluffy and sweet. I think they just remind me of a giant rodent. UGH!

So, if anyone has experience as pet rabbit owner, please give me all the details. I need to know all about them. Are they nice/mean, do they stink, what do they eat/drink, etc. Thanks!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

I know a lot of you are active Facebook users and probably enjoy using many of the fun and virtual Facebook apps that are out there. Here's one that supports a very worthwhile campaign...

The "Hello My Name is Hope" campaign is presented by Quill.com, a leading business-to-business online and direct marketer of office products. To boost breast cancer awareness, Quill.com is inviting all Facebook users to post and personalize virtual "Hello My Name is Hope" stickers on their profiles to honor both survivors and victims of the disease. The familiar "Hello My Name Is" stickers take on new meaning with personalized messages of hope and support shared across the Facebook community. For every sticker shared, Quill.com will donate $1 - up to $20,000 - to City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center dedicated to research, treatment and education.

Throughout October, every sticker created will be displayed in a community gallery on the Quill.com Facebook page, creating a virtual wall of breast cancer messages and images. Breast cancer is a disease that has impacted so many people in one way or another and Quill.com is helping to give a voice to those that have been affected.

As a parent with four school-age children, I am certainly aware of the budget restraints and cutbacks that most of our schools face. I have seen firsthand how my own childrens' schools try and make due with less money for books, supplies, and equipment. Our schools heavily rely on fundraisers and other PTO sponsored activites to bring in extra funds. When I learned about the Bing "Our School Needs" contest, I knew that I had to share the details...

Bing is sponsoring a user-generated content competition that will identify and fulfill the dreams of four schools: one grand prize winner and three first prize schools. Bing will give up to a million dollars in prizes and donations to schools in need!

Every child deserves a great education. Bing enthusiastically supports the teachers, educators and parents who make it happen with products, programs and donations that help provide a great learning environment. This competition is a great opportunity to let teachers and students show everyone through essays, photographs and videos (optional) what they think their schools needs the most.

There will be three categories: grades k-6, 7-9, and 10-12. The overall grand prize winning school will receive $100,000 and each category will have a first prize of $50,000.

What To Do
Students can work in groups, classes, or even school-wide to write an essay and take pictures finishing the sentence "Our School Needs: ___________."

Who Can Enter
Any student or teacher from a K-12 school can enter. While students under 18 are encouraged to create the entry, a parent, legal guardian or a teacher must submit it.

When
Entries may be submitted from now until Friday, October 22

Entries are made available online for everyone to view and rate. Top rated submissions and top editors picks will be turned over to a distinguished panel of judges who will determine the finalists. Winners will be announced Tuesday, November 9

For more details about the Bing "What Our School Needs" contest, please visit the Bing site

Also, check out this Bing video which helps explain the submission process

Disclaimer:I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Bing and received a DonorsChoose.org giving code and gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Here's your chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree with Zappos.com. Zappos.com ,the leader in online apparel and footwear has teamed up with Lucky magazine. Enter at Luckymag.com for your chance to win one of TEN $1,000 shopping sprees! Zappos.com is your one-stop-shop for all your fall fashion needs from apparel to accessories to handbags and shoes. Not to mention, free shipping both ways and 365 day returns.

TEN winners will get the chance to fill their closets with designer brands courtesy of Zappos.com. Zappos.com carries thousands of name brands including:

Zappos.com is constantly adding new handbags, designer sunglasses, the trendiest of accessories, the hottest clothes....and of course stylish shoes. It's any shopaholics dream come true, but you can only win if you take the 5 seconds to enter. You have from now through November 1st...and in the meantime - start planning your wardrobe selections by visiting Zappos style pages .

Good luck!

Disclaimer:This post was written in conjunction with Kel & Partners. No compensation was received for this post.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

I wanted to let you know about a swap that I just signed up to join. It's being hosted by Duck Duck Cow and should be a lot of fun.

The theme is TrueColors and each participant will put together a swap package with goodies based on their partner's favorite color. Sounds cool, right?

You must have an active blog to participate and you have until October 8 to sign up. Hurry, that's just right around the corner! Swap packages have to be mailed out on October 22nd or 23rd - no later. For all the details about the swap and how to join, visit Duck Duck Cow.

Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their ; “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine, Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

My Ultimate Family Vacation
We don't take a lot of vacations. With four kids in school and involved in sports and a husband that works two jobs, we often are just too busy or money is too tight to take a vacation. When we do take them, it's always to the beach. While this is a great trip, I have always dreamed of a city getaway to Chicago for our family. First of all, my children have never flown before, so our trip would begin at the airport. That in itself would be a huge adventure. As someone who loves to fly, I think it would be a blast to share that experience with my kids. And, as a family that lives in a small suburban area, a big city like Chicago would be so exciting for us.

There are so many cool things to see and do in Chicago. We would stay in a nice luxury hotel right smack in the heart of downtown Chicago. Visiting Adler Planetarium, The Shedd Aquarium, The Art Institute of Chicago, and Navy Pier are just a few of the attractions we would enjoy. We would also have to check out the Willis Tower Skydeck (formerly known as the Sears Tower). I'm sure my kids would be mesmerized with the terrific views from the 103rd floor Sky Ledge. And, of course, we would partake in some shopping along the Magnificent Mile.

Another really neat aspect of our dream Chicago getaway would be the actual way we get around the city. Living in our suburban town, driving is about the only practical mode of transportation. In Chicago, we could take the "L" Trains, grab a taxi, or even walk throughout the city. We could also use the service of the River Bus to get from place to place via water. How fun is that!

A Chicago city getaway is the perfect idea of my ultimate family vacation. City life, with all of its unique sights and sounds, would be a whole new experience for my kids. I know it would be a wonderful trip that we would never forget!

Where would your ultimate family vacation take you? I would love to hear about it...

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

This month the folks at Sears asked their devoted bloggers, fans, and followers this question: "What's the most important appliance in your home. And, why?" Here's what I had to say about that...

I love my washer! Seriously, I don't think I could live without it. As a wife and mom to four kids, one of the things that occupies much of my time is keeping up with all of our laundry. So, a washer is the kind of appliance that I use on a daily basis. Washing clothes is one household chore that I don't mind doing. The repetitiveness of the task is calming. And, it's something I can do while also doing other things. It's all about multi-tasking for me.

Three of my children are boys - boys that play baseball and love to play outside. This means lots of dirty clothes and tough stains. My other child is a girl - a 14 year old girl who changes outfits every time her mood changes. I mean, she certainly wouldn't be seen at the mall or the football game in the same outfit she wore to school. My husband is a firefighter - you don't even want to know what kind of stinky clothes he brings home! Our family can definitely go through some laundry.

Last year, we found ourselves needing a new washer. It couldn't have come at a worse time, as our finances were pretty tight. My dad came through for us in such a big way by offering to buy us a new washer. We headed out to our local Sears showroom to check out their appliances. The selection was great - I felt like a kid in a candy store!

My washer is by far the most important appliance in my home. Often, it literally runs from sun-up till sun-down. I could manage without most of my other appliances, but certainly not my washer!

Disclosure:This is a personal blog post written by me; all opinions are my own. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

We are a baseball family. When my husband and I met in high school, he was a baseball player for our school team. Years later, our three sons all got involved with the sport (the two youngest are still actively involved in baseball). Every spring, we look forward to the start of baseball season where we spend countless hours at our local ballpark watching our boys play. It's a lot of fun and their little league games can get pretty exciting. I love the camaraderie of being part of a baseball team. It teaches my boys all about group effort and working together. And, participating in little league baseball for so many years, we definitely feel a special bond with our friends and neighbors who also play. It's a nice way to feel like you're part of a community. We are a baseball family!

Franklin Baseball 10K Fan Challenge
Franklin Baseball is the producer of the official batting glove of Major League Baseball. Franklin offers innovative and creative products for all who enjoy sports – from professional athletes to kids who aspire to be their best.

Franklin is currently hosting a fan challenge to reach 10,000 Facebook Fans by 10/6. As an incentive/prize for reaching the 10,000 fans they will be giving away a pair of playoff tickets to one lucky Franklin Baseball fan. Fans will get the chance to enter to win these tickets through Franklin's Facebook Page: How Confidence Feels | Powered By Franklin Baseball. In addition to the pair of playoff tickets, all Franklin facebook fans will get a special promo code for 25% off in the Franklin Sports online store.

The Franklin Baseball Facebook page is used as a place for all baseball lovers to stop by and discuss their favorite sport, share photos of them playing ball and get the latest news on what’s happening in the MLB. Check it out!

Giveaway
One lucky Alas 3 Lads reader will win a pair of Franklin batting gloves - you must be a U.S. resident to enter.

*Mandatory To Enter*
To be entered in this giveaway you must visit the Franklin Facebook page and become a fan. Then return here and leave a comment to let me know that you did. This is required first to be eligible for the giveaway.

This will be a quick giveaway - it will close at 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, October 6th.

Disclosure:This post is written on behalf of Franklin Baseball through Global Influence. They are providing the batting gloves for the giveaway. In exchange for hosting this giveaway, I will also be receiving a pair of batting gloves. No other compensation was received.

A writer (Ewan McGregor) stumbles upon a long-hidden secret when he agrees to help former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) complete his memoirs on a remote island after the politician's assistant drowns in a mysterious accident. In director Roman Polanski's tense drama, the author realizes that his discovery threatens some very powerful people who will do anything to ensure that certain episodes from Lang's past remain buried.

Very subtle, yet mysterious and suspenseful. I love the dark and gloomy setting - it certainly adds to the tension of the story. I almost felt as if I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire film.

Rated PG-13 for language, brief nudity/sexuality, some violence and a drug reference

Monday, October 4, 2010

The Academy Award-nominated family film, The Secret of Kells, a stunning, sweeping story about the power of imagination and faith comes to DVD and Blu-ray on October 5, 2010! This delightful and dazzling movie will have the whole family gathered together, mesmerized by the beauty on the screen and the powerful and uplifting plot.

In a remote medieval outpost of Ireland, young Brendan embarks on a new life of adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying a book brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendan’s determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness against evil?

Hailed by critics and audiences alike as one of the most beautiful animated films of all time, The Secret of Kells (75 minutes) became the surprise nomination for Best Animated Feature at this year’s Academy Awards® and received acclaim from The New York Times, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Variety and more. This animated masterpiece also hails from the producers of Kirikou and the Sorceress and Triplets of Belleville!

We had the chance to preview The Secret of Kells on DVD. The animation and illustrations are really quite stunning. I felt like I was watching a beautiful picture book come to life. I don't know how to describe it other than to say it is very unique and artistic. I love the dreamy, mystical quality of the animation.. The story itself is also mystical - telling about young Brendan and his adventures into the forest as he searches for a magic crystal. I will admit that the storyline is a little slow compared to the action-packed movies that we are used to watching today. But, because of the cool animation, it did hold our attention just fine. If you would like a sneak peek, here's the movie trailer that can be found on YouTube. Then, be sure to check out the DVD when it is released on October 5, 2010.

Disclaimer:This post was written in conjunction with Grand Communications. They provided me with information used in this post as well as The Secret of Kells DVD for my family to review. No compensation was received other than the free DVD. All opinions expressed about this movie are my own.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday, hosted by Kailani over at An Island Life. In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So, on Fridays we can take it easy on blog posting, too.

I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer - nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life where you can link up with your own question and also visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

I am a family/lifestyle blogger. You will find me dishing about family life and parenting, raising teens, and other lifestyle topics including movies, tv, music, books, shopping, and product reviews & giveaways.